Upgrading the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources in the Republic of Georgia

Upgrading the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources in the Republic of Georgia

Experts outline a plan of action for assisting Georgian authorities to improve the safety and security of radioactive sources

By Lothar Wedekind, IAEA Division of Public Information

At a three-day IAEA Technical Meeting concluding 8 February in Tbilisi, participants outlined a plan of action for assisting Georgian authorities to improve the safety and security of radioactive sources and to locate other lost or abandoned "orphan" sources in Georgia. Participating in the meeting were experts from Georgia, Russian Federation, Germany, France, United States, the IAEA, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The plan of action addresses three main aspects:

Safe & Secure Storage of Radioactive Sources: Support will be provided for Georgian efforts to improve the safe and secure storage of radioactive sources.

Recovery of Orphan Sources. Assistance will be provided to Georgian authorities to locate and recover other known or suspected orphan sources in the country. The assistance includes support for land and aerial surveys, and for research and collection of information relevant to locating and recovering lost or abandoned sources.

Upgrading the Infrastructure for Regulation and Control of Radioactive Sources. Steps will be taken to develop, maintain, and update a tracking and inventory system for radioactive sources in Georgia. Additional assistance will be provided for radiological training of national staff, as part of efforts to strengthen the national regulatory body.